Editor's Note: The story has been updated to reflect that UO emergency policy went into effect on August 1, 2024.

The University of Oregon implemented an emergency policy on Aug. 1, to comply with changes to the federal Title IX regulations. In response to the new regulations, all faculty and staff must report disclosures of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, including those made by students, to the Title IX coordinator. Revisions to Title IX regulations broaden employee reporting responsibilities on UO campuses. 

“The federal rule-making process has run its course, including a public comment period, during which the UO and other higher education institutions advocated for the option to maintain existing policies,” said Nicole Commissiong, associate vice president, chief civil rights officer and Title IX coordinator. “Now that there are final regulations with a deadline to comply, we must adjust and adapt our policy and practices accordingly.”

Title IX is a federal statute that prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation on the basis of sex in university programs, activities and employment. The following key points will help faculty and staff prepare for changes: 

• New Title IX regulations specifically state that anyone with responsibility for teaching, advising, or administrative leadership is obligated to notify the Title IX coordinator of sex-based discrimination and harassment to ensure the university can respond effectively by offering support and options for addressing what happened. Under the emergency policy, students will retain agency to decide how they want to move forward.  
• Under the new policy, all faculty, staff, graduate employees, resident assistants, and orientation leaders are designated reporters. Other student employees are not designated reporters. The university has also designated some employees as confidential, which includes those with specific jobs and professional responsibilities such as health care and mental health professionals, Care and Advocacy Program staff, Ombudsperson and program staff, attorneys and those with legal privilege, and some employees involved in institutional review board-approved human-subjects study.  
• Employee expectations and responsibilities and a complete list of confidential employees are outlined on the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance (OICRC) website. 
• Faculty and staff should report disclosures as soon as possible through the online form on the OICRC website. Following a report to the OICRC, students will receive information about their options, available resources, and available supportive measures, including academic supportive measures. Timely reporting is therefore critical. 
• Instructors are asked to include approved language in their course syllabus aimed at helping students understand our obligations to them and what resources are available. 
• The obligation to report is not at a student's discretion. However, students will retain agency to decide how they want to move forward following the filing of a report.  
• The Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance will provide training this fall as the campus community begins the new term. As part of that plan, a new anti-harassment training module for all faculty and staff will be released that includes Title IX reporting requirements.is updating training materials and other resources for the UO community.  

A committee of faculty and staff will be formed in the fall to help develop a permanent policy on prohibited discrimination and retaliation that best complies with federal and state regulations.

More information, resources and guidance are available on the OICRC website. Employees can get assistance by emailing oicrc@uoregon.edu.